guitarra
/ɡiˈtara/feminine
The English word "guitar" is guitarra in Spanish. Wiktionary also lists jarana.
Meaning: musical instrument (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| guitarra | /ɡiˈtara/ | feminine |
| jarana | /xaˈɾana/ | feminine |
Both guitarra and jarana refer to the musical instrument. When expressing that someone plays the guitar, use the verb tocar rather than jugar.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and Colombia, the term requinto is used to describe a smaller or higher-pitched guitar.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun guitarra is feminine and is used with the feminine article la, as in la guitarra.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡiˈtara/
What mistakes should you avoid?
When saying you play the guitar, do not use the verb jugar. Instead, use tocar.
Did you know?
- While jarana describes a type of guitar, the word also means a loud party or a noisy commotion in Spanish.
- The word guitarra travelled through multiple languages, moving from Ancient Greek to Aramaic and Arabic before entering the Spanish language.
- The jarana guitar is central to the traditional music of Veracruz, Mexico, where it provides the rhythmic drive for the 'son jarocho' style.
Examples in context
- Él toca la guitarra.He plays the guitar.This sentence is useful for learning how to say someone plays the guitar.Tatoeba #2447382 by hayastan, translation #2446795 by Hybrid
- ¿Cuál es tu guitarra?Which is your guitar?This sentence is useful for asking which guitar belongs to someone.Tatoeba #491132 by Shishir, translation #38025 by CK
- Tom toca la guitarra.Tom plays guitar.This sentence is useful for stating that Tom plays the guitar.Tatoeba #9685183 by Shishir, translation #9505576 by CK
- Toco la guitarra todos los días.I play the guitar every day.
- Me encanta su guitarra española.I love your Spanish guitar.
- Compré dos guitarras nuevas.I bought two new guitars.
- 237 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Daniel are talking about hobbies in the living room.
- MaríaMira, compré una guitarra nueva.Look, I bought a new guitar.
- Daniel¡Qué bien! ¿Es difícil tocar la guitarra?That's great! Is it difficult to play the guitar?
- MaríaAl principio sí, pero es divertido.At first yes, but it is fun.
- DanielQuiero que me enseñes algún día.I want you to teach me someday.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “guitar” translations and entries guitarra, jarana, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries guitarra, jarana, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
